Car-coupling



(No Model.)

DROGHE CAR GOUPLING.

No. 443,794. Patented Deo. 30,1890.

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- UNTTED STATES PATENT Ormea.;

DAVID ROCHE, OF CLEVELAND, OIIIO.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,794, dated December30, 1890.

Application led October 16, 1890. Serial No. 368,328. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID ROCHE, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car Couplers,of which the following` is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved carcoupling by which cars may beautomatically coupled and uncoupled without the necessity and attendantdanger of going between them. In the drawings, Figure l is a sideelevation of the coupler when in the closed or coupled position. Fig. 2is a top plan view of the same. Fig, 3 is a longitudinal verticalsection of the same when uncoupled or open, and Fig. 4 is an end View ofthe same when closed.

Referring by letters to the various parts of the embodiment of theinvention which the drawings show, A B represent two jaws, the upper jawB being pivoted to the lower jaw. A coil-spring a is introducedbetween-them in such manner as to exert a continuous force tending toopen them. The lower jaw is provided with a rearwardly-extending shanka3, by means of which the coupling is secured to the car. The meetingfaces of the two parts are hollowed out, as shown, thus forming a cavityin which the end of the coupling-pin is retained and in which apart ofthe operating mechanism is placed. The ends of the two jaws arebelled--that is, beveled inward toward the hole between them, throughwhich the coupling-pin passes in the usual manner. C represents asubstantially U shaped clamp-strap-that is to say, a device having twoparallel arms c c and a connecting part c lying at substantially rightangles to the said arms. This strap straddles the upper jaw, and each ofthe arms o c is pivotally connected with the lower jaw. The upper sideof the jaw B is provided with a beveled surface l), with which the upperpart c of the clamp C engages when said clamp is forced forward, theresult being to swing the upper jaw B on its pivot and draw it intocontact with the lower jaw. When this pivoted clamp has when in thisposition holds the jaws firmly closed, and no amount of force applied tothe jaws A B can have any effect in forcing the clamp out of thisposition when it locks the jaws.

D represents a lever, which passes through the vertical slot in theupper jaw, and its end enters the cavity between the j aws. Its outerend is forconvenience forked, and both parts of the forked end engagewith the pivoted clamp C. The end of the lever in the cavity between thejaws is pivoted to a link E, and the enlarged free end of this link iscupped, as shown, whereby the end of the couplingpin is adapted tostrike it properly, for the purpose specified. n This linkis ofsuchlength that the end is struck by the coupling-pin soon after itenters between the jaws.

F representsthe couplingpin, which is in the form of a straightcylindrical bar having enlarged spherical ends ff.

The mode of operation of the device is as follows: The pin F,beingalready coupled to one car, is, as the two cars are moved together,caused to enter ,between the jaws of the open coupler on the other car,being guided by the bell-shaped end thereof. The end of the pin Fstrikes the end of thelink E and pushes against it, whereby the lever Dis turned upon its pivot. The upper forked end thereof presses againstthe clamp-strap C, turns it on its pivot, whereby, as before explained,by reason of its engagement with the beveled surface b, the two jaws areclosed andlocked. Thespherical end of the coupling-pin F is held by theshoulders a and b on the jaws respectively, and its withdrawal isimpossible. The pin fits looselyin the hole between the jaws throughwhich it passes, whereby the pin has considerable play in alldirections, and what amounts to a ball-and-socket joint between the pinand jaws is produced. This permits the cars which are coupled togetherto travel around curves without any straining or bending of the part-sand makes it immaterial whether or not the two couplings are at the samehorizontal level.

In order that these couplings may be eniployed with the old-fashionedlink-and-pin coupling, the opening between the jaws is cut away at bothsides ofthe hole through which IOO the pin l `4 passes, thereby formingahorizontal slot into which a link may be inserted, and the verticalholes .I .I are provided for the reception ot' thcpin usually employedwith such link.

The above-described mechanism is praetically operative for the purposeot' automatically coul'iling cars and for holding them coupled untilsuch time asthe uncoupling devices are operated, except to this extent,that the constant jarring incident to running the ears may jar theclamp-strap from its locked positioinand thus permit the jaws to open.For the purpose ot' preventing thisaccidental uncoupling of the cars Iprovide a springcatch G, mounted on the upper jaw in such position thatthe clamp-strap C passes itin moving toward its locked position,.whereupon the catch holds said clam p from accidental displacement.

The construction of the catch and the mechanism for operating, which thedrawings show, is as follows: The catch G has a cylin drical stein g,which is seated in a socketA in the upper jaw. A coil-spring g surroundsthe stein and exerts a continuous pressure upward. rl`l1e upper end ofthe catch is conical, except on one side, which is flat, as shown, whichflat side engages with the clam p-strap when the parts are locked.Extending horizontally from the catch is a lug g?.

VIl represents a link. y

I represents an arm secured to a rock-shaft Il, which is mounted on thecar. The link is connected at one end to the lug gL and at the other endto said lever by universal joints. The universal joints shown are in theforni of interlocking eyes on the link, lever, and lug. Ashoulder L isformed on the upper side of the link. \\hen the arm I is moved towardthe catch, said catch is first caused to revolve in its socket until aninclined part of its end bears on the clamp-strap C. The

shoulder 7i then strikes the clamp-strap and pushes it lmckward. rlhebackward move inentof the elampstrap forces the catch (h nvnward, andthe clamp-strap passes over it. The spring a then forces the jaws apartand releases the couplingpin.

Ilaving thus described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination ot' the jaw A, the jaw Il, pivoted thereto, theclamp-strap (l, pivoted to one jaw, and a beveled surface ou the otherjaw adapted to be engaged by said clamp-strap, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

2. The combination of jaw A, the jaw I3, pivoted thereto and having thebeveled surface la, the spring a, the U-shaped ela-mpstrap C, pivoted tothe jaw A, the lever l), and link E, substantially as and for thepurposespecified.

The combination of the pivoted jaws A and B, the pivoted clamp-strap C,the lever D, link E, and safet-ycatch G, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

il. ".lhe combination of the jaw A, the jaw l, pivoted thereto andhaving the beveled surface l), a spring c, a clamp-strap C, pivoted tothe jaw A and adapted to engage with the beveled surface b, the lever1), and the link E, said jaws having when closed a cavity between them,and a hole entering through the ends of said jaws into said cavity, acylindrical coupling-pin fitting loosely in said hole and having'enlarged spherical ends, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination of the jaw A, the jaw B, pivoted thereto, theclamp-strap C, the horizontal slot in the ends of said jaws, andvertical holes .I J, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

DAVID ROCHE. lVtnesses:

E. L. THL'ns'roN, Cans. Il. CARRAN.

